The funniest thing about running this site is the amount of email you get from people wanting to complain to the producers of American Idol.

The best ones are from people, or in this case relatives, who didn't make it passed the auditions when they believe with every ounce of their being that they're so good that the very essence of Michael Jackson is coursing through their veins.

So here's an exchange I've just had with one such auditionee's family.

Email #1
I think American Idol is the biggest sham/scam I have ever seen. My girlfriend and her daughter just returned from the audition in Orlando. She is 16 and didn't even make it past the first round. This girl won three teen competitions at the Apollo Theatre in New York. Finished in the top three for the NAACP talent show in Cleveland, and has performed at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland where she received tremendous accolades. She has won numerous competitions nationaly too. She just turned 16 so we thought we would give it a try.They advanced some kid who could barely sing Josh Groban and some girl who did gymnastics. Idol is a total freekin joke. I spent over 1K sending her to Orlando. They were in line at 2:30am and this is what she received. F American Idol. It is truly a total joke. We will pursue her musical career on our own. They make you sign a contract where they want your life and the universe. You will not ever make any money. They have turned the show into a total joke...

My first reply
I'm sure the dozens of Stars American Idol has produced would beg to differ

Email #2
Its a scam that destroys young artists dreams. Your screening process is a joke..

My second reply
Garbage! And if you feel crushed by the process then you're definitely not tough enough for the industry.

Email #3
Let me tell you something pal, we are not crushed because Erin will move on to bigger and better things.

Here is the letter that I am going to send to as many news agencies as I can. Your process is a joke and it needs to be exposed...This guy is a tv reporter for a local news station.

Ed,

I dont know if you remember me or not. I am a retired Eastlake PD Detective. We worked together on a few cases several years ago. I see you are very interested in music so I wanted to run this story by you and see if someone in your office might be interested.

My girlfriend Shawn and her 16 year old daughter just came back from Orlando. Erin tried out for American Idol. Erin is an extremely talented vocalist. She has performed at The Apollo Theater in NYC where she won three individual teen competitions. She has been a guest singer at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame here in Cleveland. She just recently came in third on a singing competition for The NAACP here in Cleveland. She has also won competitions in other states. When people hear her sing, heads are turned. Even when they were waiting in line in Orlando, people heard her sing and said she is going to win this thing. I don't understand the screening process. As talented as Erin is, she never made it past the first screener. A woman dressed as a stripper did. Some girl who did gymnastics did. A boy who sang Josh Groban off key also made it. There was also a girl dressed as Little Bo Peep and she moved on. Can you believe it.

I truly believe that these judges overlook great talent to let jokesters and freeky people in for ratings.

This is supposed to be a vocal talent show. Erin has overlooked the opportunity to work with an agent so she could at least advance somewhat in American Idol. I can understand that she might not win or even place in the top twenty. But I know this girl is talented enough to make it past the first screener and not some ridiculous stripper who can't even sing.

This nonsense needs to be exposed and I am planning on sending this email to as many newsrooms as I can.

We are going to setup a "Screwed by American Idol" blog site pal.

My third reply
Really? Erin is going to move on to bigger and better things? Like setting up a "please look at how hard done by I am" blog with "I'm an American Idol reject" messages all over it? Seriously? Get over yourself. If you're half as good as you think you are then stop wasting your energy complaining about one lost opportunity and make the most of another. If any of your "I deserve this" attitude was displayed during the audition then it's no wonder you never made it on to the next round.

Email #4
I am on a mission to let the public know that American Idol is a joke. Its nothing but a scam when you let strippers, gymnists, and Little Bo Peep in and not quality singers. I have sent emails to many of the national news media shows and I hope they respond. You out to be ashamed of yourself and the public needs to know whats going on. My girlfriend and her daughter witnessed it If my girlfriends daughter wasn't so talented and won so many competitions, I would forget this and move on. I will find a reporter who will take our story.

My fourth reply
Have you never seen American Idol before? Particularly the auditions? It's about more than being a singer. It's about catching the eye of someone. If Erin didn't stand out, then sorry. There are 100,000+ people who will audition this year. Only 12 people will make the finals. They would have stood out more than Erin. It's as simple as that.

Email #5
I am still on a mission. The stripper put her leg up on the table, and stuck her face in the judges face, Little Bo Peep danced around like she was auditioning for a play , the kid who sang Josh Grobon wouldn't even qualify for the 6th grade boys choir, and the cheerleader jumped around like she was at a football game. and these people were advanced too. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

THE PERCEPTION THAT THE PUBLIC HAS OF THIS SHOW IS THAT IT IS A SINGING COMPETITION NOT A TRYOUT FOR THE CIRCUS...

I don't know who you are or what affiliation you have with American idol, but this con or deceptive practice needs to be exposed to the public. I have been in touch with several news agencies and I hope they take my story.

I am relentless and I will not stop until someone will here us out....

Oh and one more thing: The judge took pictures with the stripper and walked away with her. She was passed through...Once again I don't know who you are so I am going to find I higher up individual to talk too...This chat were having is not solving anything...

My fifth reply
You're naive if you think talking to anyone is going to change anything. This process has been happening for 9 seasons now for millions of people world wide. Thousands of hours of footage is shot for about 10 hours of television. It needs to be entertaining. American Idol only needs 12 people in the final. And ultimately, 1 winner. People who have a bit of personality, despite being horrible singers, still make it onto the show for entertainment value. But guess what. We'll still come away with 12 great singers and 1 awesome winner who will sell millions.

Your argument is pathetic. And it's shared by plenty of disgruntled wannabes who weren't given the opportunity they believed they deserved. If you get any traction, you can rest assured that it will be the media making you out to look exactly like that. A disgruntled crackpot. But, if you want to ruin your reputation, go right ahead.

American Idol will still be successful this year and we'll see another great star created.

Email #6
You need to just zip it pal and quit bothering me. I have notified numerous news agencies and I am waiting to be contacted. I think that you are some kind of joe blow who has nothing to do with American Idol. Like I told you, we are on a mission to expose the scam and circus atmosphere that American Idol projects. The American people think that Idol is a singing competition when it has freeks and individuals with no talent. My girlfriend and her daughter witnessed your judges letting through a stripper that stuck her legs on the table and stuck her face in his face. The judge even took a picture with this girl before he let her through. She saw Little Bo Peep jumping around like a jack rabbit, and a gymnist jumping around like a kangaroo.They were let through too. THESE ARE NOT SINGERS PAL. AMERICAN IDOL IS A SINGING COMPETITION IN CASE YOU HAVN'T HEARD. We have witnesses and I will not stop until I get help on exposing this. If you have connections to American Idol, you might just want to let them know about me because I am not playing games.

Maybe I am naive, but I sure as hell am going to try. If I am fortunate enough to get a news agency to cover this story then you will be the first to know. Because I am going to give them your name. I have already sent copies of your EMails to the news agencies..

We have already contacted the agent that was working with Erin and Erin will get her recording contract. So remember the name Erin Troy.

And on it goes...
I then went out and did a search on YouTube for Erin. Here's what I found. A bunch of poorly recorded songs of a 16 year old with very little self belief who can sing as well as any other talented African American with pipes. She's a dime a dozen gospel singer and it's no surprize really that they weren't interested in her.

Perhaps in Cleveland she's a star - *cough* - but on the American Idol stage, she was shown up by stripper and Little Bo Peep. How embarrassing.

When you try out for American Idol, you either do it because you're entertaining but a terrible singer, you think you're fantastic but in reality you're not or you truly are an exceptional star.

I know which camp Erin fits in for me.